Materials Science and Engineering Minor

Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) applies fundamental principles of physics and chemistry to designing materials with desired combinations of mechanical, optical, electrical, magnetic, electrochemical and other properties.

UC Merced students minoring in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) will be equipped for leadership in a field that dictates the pace of technological progress. Since the beginnings of civilization, technological progress has always relied on the materials people were able to acquire from nature, through trade or by innovation. Wood, stone, bronze, iron, steel, aluminum, cements, plastics, semiconductors, liquid crystals, nanomaterials and quantum dots all have unique properties that enable—but also limit—what humans can make and do. Nations continue to go to war over access to particular raw materials.

Minimum Requirements

To be awarded a minor in Materials Science and Engineering, students must successfully complete at least 18 units.

Lower Division Requirement [4 units]

Complete the following course:

ENGR 045: Introduction to Materials Units: 4

Upper Division Requirement [14 units]

Complete the following courses:

MSE 151: Materials Processing & Performance I: Materials Thermodynamics and Kinetics
MSE 152: Materials Processing & Performance II: Materials Selection
At least six additional units of upper division courses required for the MSE major, chosen from the core MSE 1XX required courses or technical elective courses, other than research or independent study. Each course must be worth at least 3 units and at least one course must be an MSE 1XX course. Graduate level MBSE courses may be substituted, subject to prior approval.

Guidelines Applying to All Minors

The following guidelines apply to all minor programs:

Students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 (C) or better in upper division courses. Individual programs may define higher minimum GPA requirements.
At least five courses, four of which must be upper division, must be taken for a letter grade.
At least three of the required courses must be taken at UC Merced.
Only one course may be used to satisfy two minor programs’ requirements.
Only one course may be used to satisfy both a minor and a major requirement.
Work for the minor must be completed within the maximum number of units allowed by the student’s School. If the student’s major and minor are in different Schools, the higher unit maximum will apply.

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University of California, Merced

Materials Science and Engineering Minor

Minimum Requirements

Lower Division Requirement [4 units]

Upper Division Requirement [14 units]

Guidelines Applying to All Minors